iNDICA News Bureau-
Indian origin man along with two others pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, U.S. Attorney Stephanie M Hinds in Oakland, California announced, April 15.
According to the federal complaint filed on August 10, last year, three men — Daljit Kamal Singh, Troy Elias Walker and David Michael Rembert — had initiated charges against Walker, 24, and Rembert, 42, both from Concord, and Daljit Singh, 27, from Hercules, arising from an investigation into the trafficking of unlicensed and illegal firearms conducted in-person and via Instagram.
The complaint states law enforcement agents purchased 17 machine-gun conversion switches designed for pistols and 13 other firearms over the course of multiple undercover buys in Concord, California.
A machine-gun conversion switch also referred to simply as a conversion switch, is a device that modifies a firearm so that it fires like a machine gun, ejecting multiple bullets in rapid succession by a single pull of the trigger. The device qualifies as a machine gun under federal law.
The undercover operation included purchases of privately made firearms (PMFs) in addition to commercially manufactured firearms.
PMFs — which include firearms colloquially referred to as ‘ghost guns’ — are firearms built from unfinished receivers and typically lack manufacturer’s marks or serial numbers.
The case follows the launch by the U.S. Department of Justice of cross-jurisdictional firearms trafficking strike forces in five key regions to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking. One of the five strike forces was launched in the San Francisco Greater Bay Area and Sacramento region.
The strike forces identify sources of illegally trafficked firearms and disrupt straw purchasing and firearms trafficking schemes and networks through collaborative cross-jurisdictional efforts, which include additional states and multiple law enforcement agencies.
Each defendant entered into a plea agreement Friday admitting he was guilty of conspiring with his co-defendants to deal firearms without a license.
In their respective plea agreements, the defendants described examples of their illegal firearms sales as part of the conspiracy.
Daljit Singh admitted in his plea agreement that April 21, 2021, he sold a Smith & Wesson handgun with an obliterated serial number and a conversion switch to an undercover law enforcement agent. Rembert was present at the transaction along with Walker, and Rembert admitted in his plea agreement that he obliterated the serial numbers on the handgun and installed the conversion switch on to the undercover agent’s firearm for a fee at the time of the sale.
Rembert further admitted that May 6, 2021, he sold a Glock-style handgun with a conversion switch to an undercover law enforcement agent for $2,000. He also admitted installing the switch into the firearm during the meeting.
Walker admitted in his plea agreement that the same day he sold four conversion switches for $1,050 to an undercover law enforcement agent, besides a privately made P80 firearm with a Glock slide on it for $1,050. He acknowledged that these items qualify as machine-guns under federal law.
Walker also admitted that June 2, 2021, he sold 10 conversion switches for $2,000 and a privately made P80 firearm with an obliterated serial number and an installed conversion switch for $1,000. He also sold an AR-15-style rifle and an SKS rifle. These sales were made to undercover agents.
Rembert further admitted that July 14, 2021, he sold a Glock model 48 handgun, a Glock model 36 handgun, and a Glock-style conversion switch to two undercover law enforcement agents. The total price was more than $3,200.
Each defendant admitted that the conspiracy spanned at least from April 15, 2021, through July 14, 2021, and during this time up to 99 firearms were sold.
Walker specifically admitted selling 30 firearms to undercover agents during the conspiracy. He also selling firearms on Instagram. All three defendants admitted not possessing a license to sell firearms.
The three defendants were arrested August 12, 2021. Walker acknowledged that on the day of arrest, law enforcement agents seized 12 firearms from his residence, Rembert admitted agents seized 38 firearms from his residence, and Daljit Singh admitted agents recovered a machine-gun pistol from a car registered to him.
The defendants are scheduled for sentencing hearings before U.S. District Judge Jon S Tigar in the Oakland federal court Aug 5, 2022. Walker remains in custody pending sentencing. Rembert and Daljit Singh are out of custody pending sentencing.
Walker, Rembert and Daljit Singh each entered a guilty plea to a single count of conspiracy to deal firearms without a license in violation. This charge carries a maximum term of 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
